To assist NASA and the lunar community, a team of researchers from the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) has compiled an online atlas that consists of a series of maps, images, and illustrations of the Moon’s south polar region.
Topographic map of the Moon’s south pole (80°S to pole). Image credit: Lunar and Planetary Institute / Universities Space Research Association / NASA.
The highlight of the new online atlas is a set of 14 topographic maps derived from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) data.
The LPI team utilized these data to generate a series of south pole maps that can be used to visualize the terrain near the south pole.
“LRO is in a polar orbit, meaning that it passes near the poles multiple times each day, resulting in many opportunities to study the south pole over the entire mission,” the scientists explained.
“As a result, there is an abundance of topographic data and images already available from the poles, including several digital elevation models derived from LRO’s Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) instrument.”
The temperatures and illumination conditions at the lunar poles are dependent on local topography.
At the poles, the Sun never rises much beyond a degree from the horizon, creating long shadows cast from topographically elevated areas.
Over the course of a year, the Sun will appear to move around the lunar horizon, changing the angle and extent of the shadows.
However, some areas near the poles, particularly those in low topographic areas are always in shadow, never receiving direct sunlight.
These areas are permanently shadowed and very cold — so cold that volatiles like water-ice become trapped there.
Water-ice trapped near the lunar poles is particularly of interest for future explorers, as it may serve as a ready source of breathable air, drinkable water, and spacecraft propellant.
The new south pole maps can be used to identify and characterize topographically elevated (and illuminated) areas as well as permanently shadowed areas.
“There are many exciting places to explore on the Moon, but the south pole has long held promise for a sustainable human presence,” said Dr. Julie Stopar, Universities Space Research Association staff scientist and director of the Regional Planetary Image Facility at the LPI.
“This collection can assist mission planners in this new era of south pole exploration.”
